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EP1289764B1 - Luftzufuhranordung für einen drucker - Google Patents

Luftzufuhranordung für einen drucker Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1289764B1
EP1289764B1 EP00929107A EP00929107A EP1289764B1 EP 1289764 B1 EP1289764 B1 EP 1289764B1 EP 00929107 A EP00929107 A EP 00929107A EP 00929107 A EP00929107 A EP 00929107A EP 1289764 B1 EP1289764 B1 EP 1289764B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
air
printhead
nozzles
ink
inkjet printer
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP00929107A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1289764A1 (de
EP1289764A4 (de
Inventor
Kia Silverbrook
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
Original Assignee
Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd filed Critical Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
Publication of EP1289764A1 publication Critical patent/EP1289764A1/de
Publication of EP1289764A4 publication Critical patent/EP1289764A4/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1289764B1 publication Critical patent/EP1289764B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
    • B41J2/16552—Cleaning of print head nozzles using cleaning fluids
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/04526—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits controlling trajectory
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/04585—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits controlling heads based on thermal bent actuators
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/145—Arrangement thereof
    • B41J2/155—Arrangement thereof for line printing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16585—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J29/00—Details of, or accessories for, typewriters or selective printing mechanisms not otherwise provided for
    • B41J29/02—Framework
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J29/00—Details of, or accessories for, typewriters or selective printing mechanisms not otherwise provided for
    • B41J29/377—Cooling or ventilating arrangements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/14—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
    • B41J2002/14362—Assembling elements of heads

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an air supply arrangement for a printer.
  • the invention relates to an air supply arrangement for an A4 page width drop on demand printhead capable of printing up to 1600 dpi photographic quality at up to 160 pages per minute.
  • a printhead module in such a printer can be comprised of a "memjet” chip, being a chip having mounted thereon a vast number of thermo-actuators in micro-mechanics and micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS).
  • MEMS micro-electromechanical systems
  • Such actuators might be those as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,044,646 to the present applicant, however, there might be other MEMS print chips.
  • the printhead being the environment within which the air supply arrangement of the present invention is to be situated, might typically have six ink chambers and be capable of printing four color process (CMYK) as well as infra-red ink and fixative.
  • CYK color process
  • Each printhead module receives ink via a distribution molding that transfers the ink.
  • a distribution molding that transfers the ink.
  • ten modules butt together to form a complete eight inch printhead assembly suitable for printing A4 paper without the need for scanning movement of the printhead across the paper width.
  • the printheads themselves arc modular, so complete eight inch printhead arrays can be configured to form printheads of arbitrary width.
  • a second printhead assembly can be mounted on the opposite side of a paper feed path to enable double-sided high speed printing.
  • US 5,798,774 describes a gas-assisted inkjet apparatus for solid inkjet printing.
  • the apparatus comprises air passages for supplying hot air to an orifice through which ink is ejected.
  • the airflow assists with ink ejection as well as preventing debris particles from accumulating on the inkjet orifices.
  • the present invention provides a printhead for an inkjet printer as defined by Claim 1.
  • the space is formed between the nozzles and a nozzle guard, the nozzle guard having a plurality of apertures aligned with the nozzles so that ink drops ejected from the nozzles pass through the apertures to be deposited on the paper or other print medium.
  • the nozzles are arranged in an array extending across at least an A4 pagewidth, the nozzles preferably comprising MEMS devices.
  • the nozzles are arranged on a plurality of print modules of the printhead, each with a respective nozzle guard and space.
  • the air filter is preferably provided in a replaceable ink cassette of the printer.
  • the term "ink” is intended to mean any fluid which flows through the printhead to be delivered to a sheet.
  • the fluid may be one of many different coloured inks, infra-red ink, a fixative or the like.
  • Figs. 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted the core components of a print engine assembly, showing the general environment in which the laminated ink distribution structure of the present invention can be located.
  • the print engine assembly includes a chassis 10 fabricated from pressed steel, aluminum, plastics or other rigid material. Chassis 10 is intended to be mounted within the body of a printer and serves to mount a printhead assembly 11, a paper feed mechanism and other related components within the external plastics casing of a printer.
  • the chassis 10 supports the printhead assembly 11 such that ink is ejected therefrom and onto a sheet of paper or other print medium being transported below the printhead then through exit slot 19 by the feed mechanism
  • the paper feed mechanism includes a feed roller 12, feed idler rollers 13, a platen generally designated as 14, exit rollers 15 and a pin wheel assembly 16, all driven by a stepper motor 17. These paper feed components are mounted between a pair of bearing moldings 18, which are in turn mounted to the chassis 10 at each respective end thereof.
  • a printhead assembly 11 is mounted to the chassis 10 by means of respective printhead spacers 20 mounted to the chassis 10.
  • the spacer moldings 20 increase the printhead assembly length to 220mm allowing clearance on either side of 210mm wide paper.
  • the printhead construction is shown generally in Figs. 4 to 8.
  • the printhead assembly 11 includes a printed circuit board (PCB) 21 having mounted thereon various electronic components including a 64 MB DRAM 22, a PEC chip 23, a QA chip connector 24, a microcontroller 25, and a dual motor driver chip 26.
  • the printhead is typically 203mm long and has ten print chips 27 (Fig. 13), each typically 21mm long. These print chips 27 are each disposed at a slight angle to the longitudinal axis of the printhead (see Fig. 12), with a slight overlap between each print chip which enables continuous transmission of ink over the entire length of the array.
  • Each print chip 27 is electronically connected to an end of one of the tape automated bond (TAB) films 28, the other end of which is maintained in electrical contact with the undersurface of the printed circuit board 21 by means of a TAB film backing pad 29.
  • TAB tape automated bond
  • Each such print chip 27 is approximately 21mm long, less than 1mm wide and about 0.3mm high, and has on its lower surface thousands of MEMS inkjet nozzles 30, shown schematically in Figs. 9A and 9B, arranged generally in six lines - one for each ink type to be applied. Each line of nozzles may follow a staggered pattern to allow closer dot spacing. Six corresponding lines of ink passages 31 extend through from the rear of the print chip to transport ink to the rear of each nozzle. To protect the delicate nozzles on the surface of the print chip each print chip has a nozzle guard 43, best seen in Fig. 9A, with microapertures 44 aligned with the nozzles 30, so that the ink drops ejected at high speed from the nozzles pass through these microapertures to be deposited on the paper passing over the platen 14.
  • Ink is delivered to the print chips via a distribution molding 35 and laminated stack 36 arrangement forming part of the printhead 11.
  • Ink from an ink cassette 37 (Figs. 26 and 27) is relayed via individual ink hoses 38 to individual ink inlet ports 34 integrally molded with a plastics duct cover 39 which forms a lid over the plastics distribution molding 35.
  • the distribution molding 35 includes six individual longitudinal ink ducts 40 and an air duct 41 which extend throughout the length of the array. Ink is transferred from the inlet ports 34 to respective ink ducts 40 via individual cross-flow ink channels 42, as best seen with reference to Fig. 7. It should be noted in this regard that although there are six ducts depicted, a different number of ducts might be provided. Six ducts are suitable for a printer capable of printing four color process (CMYK) as well as infra-red ink and fixative.
  • CYK color process
  • Air is delivered to the air duct 41 via an air inlet port 61, to supply air to each print chip 27, as described later with reference to Figs. 6 to 8, 20 and 21.
  • the TAB film 28 extends from the undersurface of the printhead PCB 21, around the rear of the distribution molding 35 to be received within a respective TAB film recess 46 (Fig. 21), a number of which are situated along a chip housing layer 47 of the laminated stack 36.
  • the TAB film relays electrical signals from the printed circuit board 21 to individual print chips 27 supported by the laminated structure.
  • Fig. 10 depicts the distribution molding cover 39 formed as a plastics molding and including a number of positioning spigots 48 which serve to locate the upper printhead cover 49 thereon.
  • an ink transfer port 50 connects one of the ink ducts 39 (the fourth duct from the left) down to one of six lower ink ducts or transitional ducts 51 in the underside of the distribution molding. All of the ink ducts 40 have corresponding transfer ports 50 communicating with respective ones of the transitional ducts 51.
  • the transitional ducts 51 are parallel with each other but angled acutely with respect to the ink ducts 40 so as to line up with the rows of ink holes of the first layer 52 of the laminated stack 36 to be described below.
  • the first layer 52 incorporates twenty four individual ink holes 53 for each of ten print chips 27. That is, where ten such print chips are provided, the first layer 52 includes two hundred and forty ink holes 53. The first layer 52 also includes a row of air holes 54 alongside one longitudinal edge thereof.
  • the individual groups of twenty four ink holes 53 are formed generally in a rectangular array with aligned rows of ink holes. Each row of four ink holes is aligned with a transitional duct 51 and is parallel to a respective print chip.
  • the undersurface of the first layer 52 includes underside recesses 55.
  • Each recess 55 communicates with one of the ink holes of the two centre-most rows of four holes 53 (considered in the direction transversely across the layer 52). That is, holes 53a (Fig.13) deliver ink to the right hand recess 55a shown in Fig. 14, whereas the holes 53b deliver ink to the left most underside recesses 55b shown in Fig.14.
  • the second layer 56 includes a pair of slots 57, each receiving ink from one of the underside recesses 55 of the first layer.
  • the second layer 56 also includes ink holes 53 which are aligned with the outer two sets of ink holes 53 of the first layer 52. That is, ink passing through the outer sixteen ink holes 53 of the first layer 52 for each print chip pass directly through corresponding holes 53 passing through the second layer 56.
  • the underside of the second layer 56 has formed therein a number of transversely extending channels 58 to relay ink passing through ink holes 53c and 53d toward the centre. These channels extend to align with a pair of slots 59 formed through a third layer 60 of the laminate.
  • the third layer 60 of the laminate includes four slots 59 corresponding with each print chip, with two inner slots being aligned with the pair of slots formed in the second layer 56 and outer slots between which the inner slots reside.
  • the third laver 60 also includes an array of air holes 54 aligned with the corresponding air hole arrays 54 provided in the first and second layers 52 and 56.
  • the third layer 60 has only eight remaining ink holes 53 corresponding with each print chip. These outermost holes 53 are aligned with the outermost holes 53 provided in the first and second laminate layers. As shown in Figs. 9A and 9B, the third layer 60 includes in its underside surface a transversely extending channel 61 corresponding to each hole 53. These channels 61 deliver ink from the corresponding hole 53 to a position just outside the alignment of slots 59 therethrough.
  • the top three layers of the laminated stack 36 thus serve to direct the ink (shown by broken hatched lines in Fig. 9B) from the more widely spaced ink ducts 40 of the distribution molding to slots aligned with the ink passages 31 through the upper surface of each print chip 27.
  • the slots 57 and 59 can in fact be comprised of discrete co-linear spaced slot segments.
  • the fourth layer 62 of the laminated stack 36 includes an array of ten chip-slots 65 each receiving the upper portion of a respective print chip 27.
  • the fifth and final layer 64 also includes an array of chip-slots 65 which receive the chip and nozzle guard assembly 43.
  • the TAB film 28 is sandwiched between the fourth and fifth layers 62 and 64, one or both of which can be provided with recesses to accommodate the thickness of the TAB film.
  • the laminated stack is formed as a precision micro-molding, injection molded in an Acetal type material. It accommodates the array of print chips 27 with the TAB film already attached and mates with the cover molding 39 described earlier.
  • Rib details in the underside of the micro-molding provides support for the TAB film when they are bonded together.
  • the TAB film forms the underside wall of the printhead module, as there is sufficient structural integrity between the pitch of the ribs to support a flexible film.
  • the edges of the TAB film seal on the underside wall of the cover molding 39.
  • the chip is bonded onto one hundred micron wide ribs that run the length of the micro-molding, providing a final ink feed to the print nozzles.
  • the design of the micro-molding allow for a physical overlap of the print chips when they are butted in a line. Because the printhead chips now form a continuous strip with a generous tolerance, they can be adjusted digitally to produce a near perfect print pattern rather than relying on very close toleranced moldings and exotic materials to perform the same function.
  • the pitch of the modules is typically 20.33mm
  • the individual layers of the laminated stack as well as the cover molding 39 and distribution molding can be glued or otherwise bonded together to provide a sealed unit.
  • the ink paths can be sealed by a bonded transparent plastic film serving to indicate when inks are in the ink paths, so they can be fully capped off when the upper part of the adhesive film is folded over. Ink charging is then complete.
  • the four upper layers 52, 56, 60, 62 of the laminated stack 36 have aligned air holes 54 which communicate with air passages 63 formed as channels formed in the bottom surface of the fourth layer 62, as shown in Figs. 9b and 13. These passages provide pressurised air to the space between the print chip surface and the nozzle guard 43 whilst the printer is in operation. Air from this pressurised zone passes through the micro-apertures 44 in the nozzle guard, thus preventing the build-up of any dust or unwanted contaminants at those apertures.
  • This supply of pressurised air can be turned off to prevent ink drying on the nozzle surfaces during periods of non-use of the printer, control of this air supply being by means of the air valve assembly shown in Figs. 6 to 8, 20 and 21.
  • an air valve molding 66 formed as a channel with a series of apertures 67 in its base.
  • the spacing of these apertures corresponds to air passages 68 formed in the base of the air duct 41 (see Fig. 6), the air valve molding being movable longitudinally within the air duct so that the apertures 67 can be brought into alignment with passages 68 to allow supply the pressurized air through the laminated stack to the cavity between the print chip and the nozzle guard, or moved out of alignment to close off the air supply.
  • Compression springs 69 maintain a sealing inter-engagement of the bottom of the air valve molding 66 with the base of the air duct 41 to prevent leakage when the valve is closed.
  • the air valve molding 66 has a cam follower 70 extending from one end thereof, which engages an air valve cam surface 71 on an end cap 74 of the platen 14 so as to selectively move the air valve molding longitudinally within the air duct 41 according to the rotational positional of the multi-function platen 14, which may be rotated between printing, capping and blotting positions depending on the operational status of the printer, as will be described below in more detail with reference to Figs. 21 to 24.
  • the cam When the platen 14 is in its rotational position for printing, the cam holds the air valve in its open position to supply air to the print chip surface, whereas when the platen is rotated to the non-printing position in which it caps off the micro-apertures of the nozzle guard, the cam moves the air valve molding to the valve closed position.
  • the platen member 14 extends parallel to the printhead, supported by a rotary shaft 73 mounted in bearing molding 18 and rotatable by means of gear 79 (see Fig. 3).
  • the shaft is provided with a right hand end cap 74 and left hand end cap 75 at respective ends, having cams 76, 77.
  • the platen member 14 has a platen surface 78, a capping portion 80 and an exposed blotting portion 81 extending along its length, each separated by 120°.
  • the platen member is rotated so that the platen surface 78 is positioned opposite the printhead so that the platen surface acts as a support for that portion of the paper being printed at the time.
  • the platen member is rotated so that the capping portion 80 contacts the bottom of the printhead, sealing in a locus surrounding the microapertures 44.
  • This in combination with the closure of the air valve by means of the air valve arrangement when the platen 14 is in its capping position, maintains a closed atmosphere at the print nozzle surface. This serves to reduce evaporation of the ink solvent (usually water) and thus reduce drying of ink on the print nozzles while the printer is not in use.
  • the third function of the rotary platen member is as an ink blotter to receive ink from priming of the print nozzles at printer start up or maintenance operations of the printer.
  • the platen member 14 is rotated so that the exposed blotting portion 81 is located in the ink ejection path opposite the nozzle guard 43.
  • the exposed blotting portion 81 is an exposed part of a body of blotting material 82 inside the platen member 14, so that the ink received on the exposed portion 81 is drawn into the body of the platen member.
  • the platen member consists generally of an extruded or molded hollow platen body 83 which forms the platen surface 78 and receives the shaped body of blotting material 82 of which a part projects through a longitudinal slot in the platen body to form the exposed blotting surface 81.
  • a flat portion 84 of the platen body 83 serves as a base for attachment of the capping member 80, which consists of a capper housing 85, a capper seal member 86 and a foam member 87 for contacting the nozzle guard 43.
  • each bearing molding 18 rides on a pair of vertical rails 101. That is, the capping assembly is mounted to four vertical rails 101 enabling the assembly to move vertically. A spring 102 under either end of the capping assembly biases the assembly into a raised position, maintaining cams 76,77 in contact with the spacer projections 100.
  • the printhead 11 is capped when not is use by the full-width capping member 80 using the elastomeric (or similar) seal 86.
  • the main roller drive motor is reversed. This brings a reversing gear into contact with the gear 79 on the end of the platen assembly and rotates it into one of its three functional positions, each separated by 120°.
  • the cams 76, 77 on the platen end caps 74, 75 co-operate with projections 100 on the respective printhead spacers 20 to control the spacing between the platen member and the printhead depending on the rotary position of the platen member. In this manner, the platen is moved away from the printhead during the transition between platen positions to provide sufficient clearance from the printhead and moved back to the appropriate distances for its respective paper support, capping and blotting functions.
  • the cam arrangement for the rotary platen provides a mechanism for fine adjustment of the distance between the platen surface and the printer nozzles by slight rotation of the platen 14. This allows compensation of the nozzle-platen distance in response to the thickness of the paper or other material being printed, as detected by the optical paper thickness sensor arrangement illustrated in Fig. 25.
  • the optical paper sensor includes an optical sensor 88 mounted on the lower surface of the PCB 21 and a sensor flag arrangement mounted on the arms 89 protruding from the distribution molding.
  • the flag arrangement comprises a sensor flag member 90 mounted on a shaft 91 which is biased by torsion spring 92. As paper enters the feed rollers, the lowermost portion of the flag member contacts the paper and rotates against the bias of the spring 92 by an amount dependent on the paper thickness.
  • the optical sensor detects this movement of the flag member and the PCB responds to the detected paper thickness by causing compensatory rotation of the platen 14 to optimize the distance between the paper surface and the nozzles.
  • Figs. 26 and 27 show attachment of the illustrated printhead assembly to a replaceable ink cassette 93.
  • Six different inks are supplied to the printhead through hoses 94 leading from an array of female ink valves 95 located inside the printer body.
  • the replaceable cassette 93 containing a six compartment ink bladder and corresponding male valve array is inserted into the printer and mated to the valves 95.
  • the cassette also contains an air inlet 96 and air filter (not shown), and mates to the air intake connector 97 situated beside the ink valves, leading to the air pump 98 supplying filtered air to the printhead.
  • a QA chip is included in the cassette.
  • the QA chip meets with a contact 99 located between the ink valves 95 and air intake connector 96 in the printer as the cassette is inserted to provide communication to the QA chip connector 24 on the PCB.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
  • Screen Printers (AREA)

Claims (11)

  1. Druckkopf (11) für einen Tintenstrahldrucker, umfassend:
    eine Vielzahl von Druckdüsen (30) zum selektiven Ausstoßen von Tropfen von Tinte zu einem Druckmedium, das sich an den Düsen vorbeibewegt,
    eine Vielzahl umschlossener Räume, die sich zwischen den Düsen (30) und dem Druckmedium befinden, wobei jeder umschlossene Raum einem jeweiligen Teil des Druckkopfs entspricht, sodass aus den Düsen ausgestoßene Tintentropfen auf ihrem Weg zu dem Druckmedium durch einen jeweiligen umschlossenen Raum passieren; und
    ein Luftzufuhrmittel, das Luftüberdruck zu den umschlossenen Räumen zuführt, wobei das Luftzufuhrmittel einen gemeinsamen Lufteinlass, Luftfiltermittel, eine Verteilerform (35) zum Zuführen von Luft zu den Räumen und eine laminierte Mehrschicht-Verteilerstruktur (36) zum Verteilen von Druckluft zu jedem Raum umfasst, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Verteilerform (35) umfasst:
    einen Luftverteilerkanal (41) mit einer Vielzahl von Luftdurchlässen (68) in Kommunikation mit jedem der Räume, und
    ein Luftventilelement (66) mit einer Vielzahl von Öffnungen, die den Luftdurchlässen (68) entsprechen, wobei das Ventilelement (66) zwischen einer offenen Ventilposition, worin die Luftöffnungen in Kommunikation mit den Luftdurchlässen (68) sind, und einer geschlossenen Ventilposition, worin die Luftöffnungen nicht in Kommunikation mit den Luftdurchlässen (68) sind, bewegbar ist.
  2. Druckkopf für einen Tintenstrahldrucker gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei der besagte Raum zwischen den Düsen (30) und einem Düsenwächter (43) gebildet wird.
  3. Druckkopf für einen Tintenstrahldrucker gemäß Anspruch 2, wobei der Düsenwächter (43) eine Vielzahl von zu den Düsen (30) ausgerichteten Öffnungen (44) aufweist, sodass aus den Düsen ausgestoßene Tintentropfen durch die Öffnungen passieren.
  4. Druckkopf für einen Tintenstrahldrucker gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei die Luftzufuhr unterbrochen wird, wenn der Drucker in einer Nicht-Druckbetriebsart ist.
  5. Druckkopf für einen Tintenstrahldrucker gemäß Anspruch 3, wobei die Vielzahl von Düsen (30) in einer Anordnung angeordnet ist, die sich über eine A4-Seitenbreite erstreckt.
  6. Druckkopf für einen Tintenstrahldrucker gemäß Anspruch 5, wobei die Düsen (30) mikroelektromechanische Vorrichtungen umfassen.
  7. Druckkopf für einen Tintenstrahldrucker gemäß Anspruch 6, wobei die Düsen (30) in einer Vielzahl von Druckmodulen (27) angeordnet sind.
  8. Druckkopf für einen Tintenstrahldrucker gemäß Anspruch 7, wobei jedes Druckmodul (27) einem jeweiligen Düsenwächter (43) zugeordnet ist, um einen jeweiligen Raum zu definieren.
  9. Druckkopf für einen Tintenstrahldrucker gemäß Anspruch 8, wobei das Luftzufuhrmittel jedem besagten Raum Luftüberdruck zuführt.
  10. Druckkopf für einen Tintenstrahldrucker gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei die Luftfiltermittel in einer austauschbaren Tintenkassette des Druckers vorgesehen sind.
  11. Druckkopf für einen Tintenstrahldrucker gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei die laminierte Verteilerstruktur (36) eine Vielzahl von sich durch mindestens einige der Lagen erstreckenden Luftlöchern (54) und zwischen zwei benachbarten der besagten Lagen gebildete quergerichtete Luftdurchlässe (63) umfasst, wobei die quergerichteten Luftdurchlässe zu den besagten Räumen führen.
EP00929107A 2000-05-24 2000-05-24 Luftzufuhranordung für einen drucker Expired - Lifetime EP1289764B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

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PCT/AU2000/000595 WO2001089847A1 (en) 2000-05-23 2000-05-24 Air supply arrangement for a printer

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EP1289764A1 EP1289764A1 (de) 2003-03-12
EP1289764A4 EP1289764A4 (de) 2004-11-17
EP1289764B1 true EP1289764B1 (de) 2007-07-25

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EP00929107A Expired - Lifetime EP1289764B1 (de) 2000-05-24 2000-05-24 Luftzufuhranordung für einen drucker

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US (3) US7055930B1 (de)
EP (1) EP1289764B1 (de)
JP (1) JP4620925B2 (de)
CN (1) CN1205044C (de)
AT (1) ATE367925T1 (de)
AU (3) AU4733000A (de)
DE (1) DE60035711D1 (de)
IL (1) IL166723A (de)
WO (1) WO2001089847A1 (de)
ZA (1) ZA200209796B (de)

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US6923866B2 (en) 2003-06-13 2005-08-02 Spectra, Inc. Apparatus for depositing droplets
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KR101068705B1 (ko) * 2006-03-03 2011-09-28 실버브룩 리서치 피티와이 리미티드 펄스 감쇠 유체 구조
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1289764A1 (de) 2003-03-12
ATE367925T1 (de) 2007-08-15
EP1289764A4 (de) 2004-11-17
US7357475B2 (en) 2008-04-15
US7055930B1 (en) 2006-06-06
AU2004203509B2 (en) 2004-09-23
IL166723A (en) 2007-06-17
DE60035711D1 (de) 2007-09-06
AU4733000A (en) 2001-12-03
AU2004203509A1 (en) 2004-08-19
US20080111850A1 (en) 2008-05-15
ZA200209796B (en) 2003-07-30
AU2000247330B2 (en) 2004-05-06
WO2001089847A1 (en) 2001-11-29
US20050225590A1 (en) 2005-10-13
CN1205044C (zh) 2005-06-08
JP4620925B2 (ja) 2011-01-26
CN1457298A (zh) 2003-11-19
JP2004500265A (ja) 2004-01-08

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